For over 50 years, I steadfastly resisted every proposal to build in Burnet Woods Park. No more. After six months of community engagement, the Clifton Cultural Arts Center (CCAC) knocked my socks off with a presentation for a new structure at the November meeting of the Cincinnati Board of Cincinnati Park Commissioners. Not only has my opposition melted away, but I’m ready to get to work to make this happen!

In searching for its new home, CCAC approached Cincinnati Parks to explore building in Burnet Woods. In May, park officials asked CCAC to create a plan for a building near Trailside Nature Center for presentation at an initial community engagement session.

The preliminary ideas raised fears among bird watchers and nature lovers because they failed to protect the sensitive areas of the park. These fears sparked a reactive movement that circulated petitions and organized protests. Many people signed on; I might have too had I not understood that the proposed site was very preliminary.

As a nature lover, I have experienced many moments of serenity in Burnet Woods. Why then would I support CCAC’s proposal to build there? In short, the proposal, which identified two potential sites in the park, has evolved into a strikingly sensitive approach to the environment.

An image from Burnet Woods, a large Cincinnati Park near the University of Cincinnati.(Photo: The Enquirer/Meg Vogel)

First, my favorite of the two sites proposes a structure at the very edge of the park in an open area on the corner of Clifton and Martin Luther King. Park officials’ own report states that development in this area "would have no significant impact on the ecology of the park" and "would not impact the tree canopy, storm water, wetlands or any other identified environmental attributes." Doing no harm is critical to me.

Second, CCAC engaged Emersion Design, the firm who designed Cincinnati’s District 3 police station, the first LEED Platinum, net-positive energy police station in the world. Using Living Building Challenge principles, the ecology of the site will be improved. Early conceptual renderings show a partially hidden building with a green roof, landscaped with native species to provide habitat for migrating birds. The limited areas of new pavement will be permeable and additional trees will be planted. The structure will provide a valuable buffer from the noise and chaos of the 55,000 cars that pass by daily.

Third, a signature green building on a highly visible site in a Cincinnati park sets the example that it is economically feasible to build sustainable structures that improve the environment. If we are ever to change people’s thinking about how to build to save the planet, there’s no better way than to show them.

There are other benefits to the park. The 2007 Centennial Parks Master Plan called for new partnerships to help with park programs and improvements. Per the park report, CCAC’s "proposal is consistent with and would further 18 specific recommendations of the Master Plan." CCAC’s extensive arts programming will bring new life to Burnet Woods Park, create a community hub and connect the diverse communities of Uptown. They will connect more kids and adults to nature with a new slate of Nature and Art programming. All of this will be done at no cost to Cincinnati Parks. Also, annual lease payments at fair market rates will help our cash-strapped parks.

On Wednesday, when park commissioners vote whether or not to move forward with the recommendation of the parks staff regarding CCAC, they would do well to look beyond the mere number of signatures on petitions. If park commissioners are seeking someone with whom to collaborate to develop programming in support of their mission, an organization with a spirit of public service and a track record of success, run by people who have demonstrated time and again the ability to generate support, win grants, raise donations, and manage successful programs on realistic budgets, then you could not find a better partner than the Clifton Cultural Arts Center.

Malcolm Montgomery has lived, worked and raised a family in Clifton over the past 50 years, and is active in community affairs.